2016 Singapore Grand Prix Betting Preview

The 2016 Singapore Grand Prix will take place at the magnificent Marina Bay street circuit this Sunday 18th September. Whilst all Grand Prix races are equally important in terms of results, the Singapore Grand Prix is particularly special because it was the first ever Formula 1 race to take place at night, and on a street circuit at that. That was back in 2008, but the sense of occasion which this event brings with it has never waned, so who do the bookies think will win this time around?

Form

Lewis Hamilton is at the head of the 2016 Drivers’ Championship table with 250 points after 14 races, but he is only 2 points ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and chief rival, Nico Rosberg. Hamilton had a very poor start to the Italian Grand Prix, and went from pole position to sixth place in the space of a few seconds. He eventually finished in second place, losing to Rosberg, which means his German teammate has now won seven Grand Prix races this year to Lewis’ six.

Daniel Ricciardo finished the Italian Grand Prix in fifth place, and is currently third in the Drivers’ Championship table with 161 points. His finishing position was well earned and was achieved at the expense of Valtteri Bottas, who had managed to defend himself against the Australian for some time before eventually being relegated to sixth.

Nico Rosberg is third-favourite to win the Singapore Grand Prix, but taking his position in the betting forecast on face value would be a mistake, because although he is trailing by 2 points in the Drivers’ Championship, he has won more races this season than anyone else. His victory in the Italian Grand Prix was his second in succession, and the German is now in a great position to return to the top of the Championship table if he can secure just three more points than Hamilton in Singapore.

Sports.net’s view

The Singapore Grand Prix is a bit of a puzzler for bettors, because whilst Hamilton deserves to be the favourite if one takes qualifying performances into account as well as his achievements in the last 14 Grand Prix races, the same applied last time in Italy, and it didn’t translate to him winning.

The Marina Bay street circuit is best suited to the chassis of Red Bull cars, which is probably why the odds-makers have made him second-favourite to win the race, but we don’t think that a mechanical advantage alone will be enough to completely overthrow the Mercedes attempt at victory.

For bettors who are loyal to Hamilton through thick and thin, the odds about him winning in Singapore are more generous than of late, and the odds-against price looks extremely attractive. However, Rosberg will certainly not let his team-mate return to the highest level of the podium without a fight, and although he has only achieved a podium finish once at this venue, he will be massively motivated to repeat the feat this year. If Hamilton slips up again, Rosberg will be quick to take advantage of the situation and put himself in the lead for the Drivers’ Championship.

Whilst we believe that Hamilton will learn from his previous race and is the most likely candidate to win the Singapore Grand Prix, it is by no means inconceivable that Rosberg could finish ahead of his rival once again. We will therefore predict that both Mercedes drivers will achieve a podium finish – a bet that would prove profitable as long as both of them finish in the top three, whatever their order.

Sports.net’s Top Tip: A double podium finish for Mercedes at 11/8 – SkyBet

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